FEELING Grateful Versus BEING Grateful

FEELING Grateful Versus BEING Grateful

Our thread today is related NEITHER to grammar NOR semantics.  BUT it is vital that we make a distinction between FEELING Grateful Versus BEING Grateful.  True, we DON'T have total control over our emotions.  We CANNOT easily will ourselves to feel GRATEFUL, be less depressed OR be happy.  Our feelings follow from the way we look at the world, thoughts we have about the way things are, the way things should be and that distance between these two points📌📌📌

BUT being GRATEFUL is a choice, a prevailing attitude that endures and is relatively immune to the gains and losses that flow in and out of our lives.  When disaster strikes, GRATITUDE provides a perspective from which we can view life in its entirety and NOT be overwhelmed by temporary circumstances.  Yes, I would admit that this perspective is hard to achieve BUT it's worth our effort💎💎💎

In fact. the trials and tribulations we endure in life can actually refine and deepen GRATEFULNESS if we allow them to show us NOT to take things for granted.  In the United States, they have a 'THANKSGIVING' holiday that, according to Ameircan historians, was born and grew out of HARD TIMES.  Now, here's more of the stark realities in our life.  When times are good, people take prosperity for granted and begin to believe that they seem invulnerable.  In times of uncertainty, though, people realize how powerless they are to control their own destiny.  Let's look back at that pandemic❎❎❎

If we begin to see that everything we have, everything we have counted on, may be taken away from us anytime, it becomes much harder to take it for granted.  So, indeed, a crisis can make us more GRATEFUL and expert studies show that GRATITUDE also helps us cope with crisis.  Consciously cultivating an attitude of GRATITUDE builds up a sort of immune system enough to cushion us when we fall✅✅✅

Studies show that GRATEFUL people are more resilient to stress, whether its minor daily hassles or major personal upheavals.  The study in contrast between SUFFERING and REDEMPTION serves as the basis for us to to practice GRATITUDE.  Remember your worst 'DOWN MOMENTS' then look where you are now, that should push you to be both FEELING GRATEFUL and BEING GRATEFUL all rolled into one❗❗❗